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were the only
Rangers left in the fight by this point. Carmichael opened fire on Fred Connor, badly wounding him. However, when Fred Connor rose to flee, Carmichael's gun jammed. This left only Ranger Treadwell to continue the fight. However, unaware of the Rangers' situation, Willis, Fred and John Connor fled. Fred Connor would later be killed by Rangers in a shootout on October 25, 1887, while Willis Connor and a grandson were shot and killed by Rangers on November 15, 1887. John Connor disappeared.
176:. The Rangers immediately opened fire, and a fierce exchange of gunfire ensued. At least 100 rounds were fired by the two bands, at a distance of twenty feet. Bill Connor was killed in the first exchange, as was Texas Ranger Jim Moore, while Captain William Scott, Private John Rogers and Brooks were seriously wounded.
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By later Ranger accounts, Brooks, though wounded, trudged forward under fire, rapidly firing his rifle. Brooks was hit again, in the hand, mangling three fingers. Unable to hold his gun, Brooks retreated to where
Captain Scott lay, and bandaged his hand. Rangers Jim Carmichael and Billy Treadwell
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Broke and without employment, Brooks joined the Texas
Rangers in January 1883, assigned to "Company F", starting a career that would last twenty three years. Brooks rapidly gained a reputation as a Ranger who would quickly draw his gun, rather than negotiate. In 1886, while pursuing
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mother raise his seven siblings. Once he felt his family could make it without him, at the age of 21 he departed for the west. He settled in
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As the
Rangers approached, one of the Connors, believed to have been the father, Willis Connor, stood and pointed his
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in 1883. The
Rangers had tracked the Connors into a thicket of underbrush, and began moving in to make the arrests.
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List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States
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Brooks healed from his injuries, and later assisted in the battling of the
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Less than one month later Brooks engaged a cowboy in a gunfight while in
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On March 31, 1887, Brooks accompanied several other
Rangers into
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and raise cattle. For a brief time in 1879 he worked as a
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Ranger Legend James Brooks, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame
23:American politician and Texas Ranger (1855–1944)
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57:and planter. His father was killed during the
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29:(November 20, 1855 – January 15, 1944) was a
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16:For other people named James Brooks, see
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266:Shining Star, Texas Ranger James Brooks
105:Texas Ranger career, gunman reputation
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286:People from Bourbon County, Kentucky
281:Members of the Texas Ranger Division
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321:People from Brooks County, Texas
49:James Abijah Brooks was born in
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159:murder
139:Pardon
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